Dr.  Chauncys 


S   E   R    M    O 


'Preach'd    May    3otiu     J  7  7  o 


Truft   in   GOD,  the  Duty  of  a. 
People  in  a  Day  of  Trouble. 


SERMON 

Preached,    May    3oth.    1770* 

Ac  the  requeft  of  a  great  number  of  Gen- 
tlemen, friends  to  the  LIBERTIES  of 
North -America,  who  were  defirous,  not- 
withftanding  the  removal  of  the  MafTa- 
chufetts General-Court  (unconstitutionally 
as  theyjudged)to  CAMBRIDGE,  that  GOD 
might  be  acknowledged  in  thac  houie  of 
worfhip  at  BOSTOiM,  in  which  our  tribes, 
from  the  days  of  our  fathers,  have  annu- 
ally fought  to  him  for  direction,  previ- 
ous to  the  choice  of  his  Majefty'sCouncil, 


B  Y 


CHARLES  CHAUNCY,  D.  D. 

PASTOR  OFTHE  FIRST  CHURCHIN 


BOSTON: 

Printed  by  DANIEL  KNEEL  AND,    for  THO> 
MAS  LE  v£  RE  XT,  ia  Corn-Hill,     A77°« 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

THE  author  of  the  following 
.Sermon  .acknowledges  the 
candor  of  the  many  refpec- 
table  Gentlemen,  who  fo  kindly 
over-looked  it's  imperfections  in 
the  hearing,  as  to  defire  it's  pub- 
lication t  and  hopes  the  reader 
will  be  in  the  exercife  of  a  like 
candid  temper  of  mind  ;  as  the 
warning  to  preach  did  not  exceed 
forty-eight  hours,  and  what  was 
preached  is  printed  without  tran- 
icribing  ;  their  being  no  leifure 
for  it. 


PSALM    22.  4, 


«  Our  fathers  trufied  in  /te:  they.iruted> 
and  thou  didft  deliver  then?. 

OLY    David  Tpakc   tbefe 
worcjg  jn  the  name   Of  thc 

Jcwifli  nation,  looking  back 
to  ..their  pious  anceftors, 
through  the  feveral  fuccefllve 
periods,  in  which  they  had 
exifted  as  a  people  ;  and  what  he  fays  con- 
cerning them  is,  that  they  "  truited  in 
GOD".  He  then  records  the  happy  effccl: 
confequent  thereupon*  *'  Thou  didft  deli- 
ver them":  which  deliverance  GOD  fome- 
.times  wrought  out  forthem  in  the  moR  fignal 
manner  ;  "  riding  in  the  heavens  for  their 
help,  and  in  his  excellency  on  the  clouds". 

THE  infpired  pfolmift  reminds  the  JcwiHi 
people,  in  his  day,  of  this  piay  of  their  pro- 
genicors,ahd  the  good  effecl  of  it,that  he^iighc 
excite  in  them  a  becoming  concern  to  make 
GOD  the  fupreme  object  of  their  truft  *,  en- 
couraging them,  in  this  way,  to  hope  for  de- 
liverance, however  preffing  the  difficulties 
be  they  were  under. 

MY 


6          Xruft  in  GOT>  tbt'dutj   of 

MV  text,  though  thus  primarily  directed 
to  the  Jews  to  engage  their  truft  in  GOD, 
that  they  might  obtain  deliverance  from  evil, 
is  yet  applicable  to  other  people,  under  like 
circumftances  ,  and  may  obvioufly  be  ac- 
commodated to  the  people  of  GOD  in  this 
land.  Perhaps,  theic  are  no  people,  now 
dwelling  on  the  face  of  the  eaith,  wno  may, 
with  greater  pertinency,  adopt  the  language 
of  king  !*<avid,  and  fay,  "  our  fathers  trult- 
cd  in  thee  ;  they  truited,  and  thou  didft  de- 
liver them". 

I  (hall  difcourfe  to  the  words  in  this  ac- 
comm.oda:edlenie  •,  taking occafion  from  them 
to  (peak  of  our  pious  anccltors  as  thofe  who 
*6  truRed  in  GOD"-,  and  then  of  the  good 
effect  of  their  lo  doing,  inthe  "  deliverances 
GOD  wrought  out  for  them'*.  The  way  will 
then  be  clear  to  point  out  to  us  their  pofte- 
rity  our  duly  in  this  day  of  trouble,  and  the 
gooJ  effe<5t  we  may  humbly  look  for  from 
the  faithful  performance  of  it. 

IT  may  with  real  truih  be  faid  of  our 
pious  progenitors,  that  they  l<  truited  in 
'GOD** ;  that  is,  that  they  made  GOD  the 
alone  ulcimate  object  of  their  dependence 
in  every  tmfe  of  need.  And  this  they  did, 
not  blindly,  or  grouncilefsly,  as  having  no 
folid  reafon  for  their  conduct  ;  but  from  jutt 
conceptions  of  that  wifdom,  power,  and 
goodncis  of  GoDj  which  render  him  a  being 

eveiy 


'*  people  in  a  day  of  Trczlhl  7 

every  way  futablc  to  be  intirely  confided  in. 
In  this  view  of  the  all-fufficiency  of  GOD, 
they  ever  repaired  to  him  as  their  ftrength 
and  refuge,  commiting  themfelves,  and  all 
their  concerns,  into  his  hands,  and  relying 
on  him  as  their  fapreme  help.  Scnfible  of 
their  own  inability  to  provide  for  and  pro- 
tedt  themfelves,  and  of  the  inability  of  all 
creatures  without  GOD,  much  more  in  op- 
pofition  to  him,  they  took  off  their  depen- 
dence from  every  thing  elfe,  and  placed 
it  on  him  fupremely  and  ultimately,  as 
that  glorious,  and  yet  gracious,  being,  who 
alone  was  {ufficient  to  be  their  guide,  de- 
fence, and  help,  efpecially  in  their  days  of 
trouble. 

THUS  our  fathers  trufted  in  GOD  ;  and 
fome  fpecial  properties  of  this  their  truft, 
are  eminently  worthy  of  notice. 

IT  was  a  truft  accompanied  with  prayer. 
This  is  obferved,  in  the  verfe  immediately 
following  my  text,  concerning  the  truft  of 
the  Jewifh  fathers.  "They  cried  unto 
thee,  and  were  delivered".  They  prayed, 
as  well  as  trufted.  They  not  only  made 
GOD  their  dependance,  but  commited  their 
cafe  to  him  in  humble,  fervent  fupplicati- 
ems.  In  like  manner,  prayer  to  that  glori- 
gus  being  wjio  dwell$th  on  high,  was  ever 

ft 


8          Zntjl  fa  GOD  the   Duty  of 

a  cqncomitant  of  that  truft  which  the  pious 
forefathers  of  the  people  of  New -England 
placed  in  GOD.  They  were  eminently  men 
of  prayer  ;  they  prayed  always  ;  and  their 
prayers  were  more  abundant,  and  more  im- 
portunate and  incefTant,  when  their  circum- 
llances  marie  it  proper  to  make  GOD  their 
fpecial  refuge  in  any  times  of  more  than  or- 
dinary difficulty  and  danger.  They  now 
befieged  the  throne  of  GOD,  with  their  fer- 
vent cries,  at  once  hoping  in  his  mercy,  and 
praying  to  him  for  the  beftowment  of  it. 

THEIR  truft  alfo  was  Accompanied  with 
humility,  a  becoming  fenfe  of  their  unwor- 
thinefs,  and  the  infinite  condefcention  of 
GOD,  that  he  mould  be  willing  to  allow  fuch 
finful  undeierving  creatures  to  place  their 
dependence  on  him  for  protection  and  help. 
They  entertJined  in  their  minds  exalted  ap- 
prehenfions  of  this  favor  of  the  "  high  and 
lofty  one  who  inhabiteth  eternity"  ;  and  as 
low  ones  of  themfelves,  in  confideration  of 
their  own  comparative  nothingnefs,  much 
more  of  their  fmfulpefs,  whereby  they  had 
expofed  themfelves  to  the  righteous  refent- 
ments  of  heaven. 

THEIR  truft  in  GOD  was  Ilkewife  *exerci- 
fed  with  profound  lubmiffion  to  his  alwife 
pleafurc,  as  to  the  time,  manner,-  rneafure* 

and 


&  People  in  a   Day  of  Trouble;         ^ 

aad  all  the  circumftanccs  relative  to  the  good 
they  confided  in  him  for.  They  were  fa 
refigned  as  to  have  no  w^l  of  their  own, 
in  oppofition  to  Gon's.  That  was  the  feel- 
ing or.  their  hearts,  as  well  as  the  language 
of  their  lips,  in  all  times  of  danger  and  dif- 
trefs,  whether  perfonal  or  public,  "let  the 
Lord  do  to  us  as  feemeth  good  to  him". 
"  Father,  not*  as  we  will,  but  as  tho  14  wilt". 

Again,  THEIR  truft  inGon  was  fteadily 
and  firmly  fixed.  Nothing  was  able  ta 
fhake  their  confidence  in  the  divine  per- 
fections, and  promifes,  no  difficulties  in  the 
courfe  of  providence,  no  difcou.ragements^ 
no  dangers,  no  tryajs  however  heavy  and 
fevere  -,  but  in  the  midft  of  flj,  and 
withftanding  all,  they  had  re^inthe 
r-efolutely  cleaving  to  GOD  as  their  ultimate 
hope, and  refuge.  With  holy  Job  they  couk$ 
fay,  "  tho'  he  flay  me,  yet  wil]  }  |ruft  iq 
him"  •,  Yea,  they  could  triumph  in,  the  Jan-2 
guage  of  the  46th  Pfalm,  "Goq  is  ou^ 
refuge  and  ftrength,  a  very  prefent  helpjp, 
trouble.  Therefore  will  we  not  fear,  th$* 
the  earth  be  removed,  and  the  mountains  bs 
carried  into  the  depth  of  the  feas  ;  tho'  ths 
waters  thereof  roar  and  are  troubled  ;  tho'  tha 
mountains  (hake  with  ,the  fwelling  thereof". 

Yet  again,  THEIR  truft  in  GOD  was  ae- 
B  compainc4 


i©          Vrujt  in  GOD  the   Duty  of 

companied    with    their   own  endeavours,  in 
the  uie  of  proper  means,  in  order  to   the  ob- 
tainment   of  needed   falvation  and   deliver- 
ance :  Otherwife,  inftead  of  placing  a   well 
grounded  confidence  in  the  divine  all-fuffici- 
cncy,  they  would  have  been  chargeable  with 
the   weaknefs  and   folly  of  prefuming  up- 
on the  help  of  heaven.     For  it  ought  always 
to  be  remembered,  tho'  it  is  GOD  ultimately 
who  protects,  helps,  and  faves  ;  yet,    he  or- 
dinarily  dots   this   by  the  intervention   of 
fecond  caufes,  adapted  in  their  nature,  to  the 
purpofe.     Our  fathers,  therefore,    that  they 
might   not    fubftitute   prefumption,    in  the 
room  of  a  well-placed  truft,  joined  with  their 
dependance   on  GOD,   tho*  in  abfolute  fub- 
ordination  to  it,  a  due  ufe  of  luch  means  as 
he  has    been    wont   to  accompany,    or   fol- 
low, with  his  bleffing.     Had  they,  in  a  tirr.e 
of    danger,  needlefsly   expoied  themielves, 
or  had  they  not  taken  fuch  methods  as  were 
wife,  fit  and  reafonablc,  in  order  to  their  own 
preiervation    andjafety,  they  would  in  vain 
have  trullcd  in  GOD  ;     as  in  this    way  only 
they  might   rcafonably   have   expe&ed   his 
bleifing. 

MOREOVER,  their  truft  in  GOD   was   an 
obediential  one.     They  at  once  obeyed  GOD 
and  depended  on  him.     They  made  it  their 
care  10   -walk  in  the   way  of  his  command- 
ments 


&  Peop!t*in  *  Day  of  Trouble,          1 1] 

ments  ;  and  now  they  confided  in  his  power,' 
wifdcm,  and  goodnets  to  defend,  protect, 
guide,  and  do  them  good.  For,  as  the 
fcripture  fays,  to  which  they  always  paid  a 
facred  regard,  "the  Lord  is  a  fun  and  fhield  ; 
the  Lord  will  withhold  no  good  thing"  ; — - 
from  whom  ?  It  follows,  "from  them  that 
walk  uprightly'*. 

IN  fine,  their  truft  in  GOD  was  exercifed 
thro'  Jcfus  Chrift.     This  fon  of  GOD'S  love 
they  eiteemed  the  divinely  appointed   medi- 
um   of  communication^  between    GOD  and 
man,  and  the  only  one  that  was  Ib.     Thro* 
him  they   believed  GOD  was  reconcilable  ta 
Tinners,  and  might  be  a  friend  to  fupply  their 
wants,to  help  them  under^difficulties,to  guard 
them  againft  dangers,  and  to  be  their  lalva- 
tion  in  a  day  of  trouble.     They  accordingly 
repaired  to  GOD  thro5  Jefus  Chrift,  the  one 
mediator    between    GOD  and    men,  making 
him  their  refuge,  the  fupreme  abject  of  their 
dependancc  in  regard  both  of  foul  and  body, 
this  world  and  another.     The  worthinefs  of 
CHRIST,  and  not  their  owrr,   was  the  reafon 
or  ground  of  all   they   expected  in  confe- 
quence  of  their  trufting  in  him.    They  knew 
GOD  was    ever  well   pleafed   with  his    Son 
Jefus   Chrift,  in  vertue  of  his    obedience  to 
che  death  j  and   that,  thro'  him,  they  might 
with  humble  confidence  rely  on  him  to  piry, 

and 


ruft  in  GGT>  the  Duty 


and  help  them  •,  to  appear  their  favicr,  and 
•work  cut  dtl'verance  for  them.  Him  there- 
'fore  they  made  the  great  object  of  their  trull, 
their  fup'eme  refuse,  and  ail-fbfikient  ds- 
redor  and  protector. 


tfcty  found  their  account  in  thus 
•  trufting  in  GOD.  Fc  r  wf  at  is  laid  in  the 
la.trer  part  of  my  texr,  is  jullly  spplicable  tp 
them,  "Thou  dm  ft  deliver  them*'. 

THE  word,  c<  deliverarce",  carries  in  k 
the  idea  of  difficulty  and  danger,  cither  felt 
or  feared.  Our  fathers  were  often  ex.po.fttd 
to  dangers,  and  ;fometimes  called,  in  the 
couile  of  providence,  to  fufftir  the  tryal  of 
•prefling  difficulties.  GOD  was  their  refuge 
in  the'e  times  of  Trouble,  in  him  they  trull- 
led  ;  and  theeffeft  was,  their  ddiverance  out 
of  all  tb^ir  troubles. 

It  was  a  cla'y  "of  grievous  tryal  to   them3 
.•when  they    were  opprtfled  in  JEnglard,    by 
having  pu.t  on  their  ntcks  the  eccltfiaitical 
^yi  ke   of  bondage,    which  was  forely  galling, 
They  were   not  pet  muted    to  worfhip  their 
XJOD  atcording  to  the  didates  of  con'cience^ 
guided   by  his  word.     And  unlefs  they  fub- 
tnifttdto.  iht    inventions  of   man,  added    to 
the  ordinances  of  Gc  D,  they    became    liable 
lu  ints,    corifilcations,  imprilonments,   and 

bamihment 


«  People  in    a   Day  'sfTrm^.         ig 

tanifliment.     It  could  fcarce  be  believed 
what  they  were  called  to,  unlefs  they  would 
ihipwreck  faith  and  a  good  confcience,    was 
a  rehearfal  to  be    here    given  of  what  they 
fuffered.-^-But,    as   they  trufted  in  GOD,  he 
made  way   for  their  deliverance  from   this 
tyranny,  by  bringing  them  over  to  this  then 
defolate  land,  with  CHARTER-RIGHTS,   not 
only  fetting  them  free  from  tne  oppreflion  of 
church  power,  but   intitling  them  to  difHn- 
guiihing  liberties  .and  privileges,  both   civil 
and  rehgiou*.     And  very  fignal  was  the  ap- 
pearance of  heaven  on  their  behalf  in  bring- 
ing about  this  deliverance.    The  alwife  good 
GOD  not  only  gave, them  favor  with  the  greac 
men  at  home,  io  as  to  encourage  their  enter- 
prize  to  this  new  and  "unknown   part  of  the 
world  •,  but   made  a  path  for  them  in    the 
great   waters,  and  bro't  them  over  the  at- 
lantic  to  thcfe   then  dangerous,    becaufc,  iii 
that   day,    untried;  (hoars  •,  landing  them  in 
fafety.     The   deliverance    of    our    forefa- 
thers from  tyranny  andoppreffior,  by  bring- 
ing   them   over   to  this    diltant    region,    ts 
not  unlike  his  carrying  his  Ifrael  of  old  thro* 
the  red  fea  to   the  promifed  land  of  reft : 
And  that   might  have  been  their   fong   of 
praifc  upon  this  account,    "The  Lord  is  our 
ftrength  and  fong  ;  and  he  is  become   our 
falvation.     IbJe  is  our  GOD,  and  we  will  pre- 
pare him  an  habitation.     Who  is  like  unto 

thee. 


1 4         Tray?  /»  GOD  the   Duty  of 

thee,  O  Lord,among  the  Gods  ?  Who  is  like 
thee,  glorious  in  holinefe,  fearful  in  praifes, 
doing  wonders.  Thou  in  mercy  haft  led 
forth  the  people  whom  rhou  haft  redeemed  ; 
thou  haft  girded  them  in  thy  ftrength. — - 
Thou  haft  bro't  them  in,  and  planted  them 
in  the  mountain  of  thine  inheritance,  in  the 
place,  O  Lord,  which  thou  haft  made  for 
thee  to  dwell  in,  in  the  fancluary,  O  Lord, 
which  thy  hands  have  cftablithed.  The 
Lord  fhall  reign  forever  and  ever". 

I 

'OUR  fathers,  after  their  coming  into  this 
land,  were  at  firft,  and  for  many  years,  in 
(traits  and  difficulties,  and  at  times  much 
put  t--  it  even  for  the  neceif^ries  of  life. 
But  as  they  trufted  in*GoD,  he  appeared  for 
their  help,  and  made  provifion  for  their  fup- 
port,  in  ways  as  extraordinary,  as  unexpected, 

OUR  fathers,  after  their  fcttlemeni  in  this 
land,  were  fometimes  in  great  diftrefs  from 
the  iavages  that  invaded  them,  and  threat- 
ned  their  dcftruclion.  And  had  it  not  been 
for  marvellous  prote&ions  afforded  to  them 
by  GOD  almighty,  they  muft  have  perifhed 
by  the  hands  of  thefe  enemies.  They  might 
with  great  propriety  have  adopted  thofe 
'words  of  the  Pfalmift,4  "If  it  had  not  been 
the  Lord  who  was  on  our  fide,  when  men 
rofe  up  agamft  us,  then  they  had  iwailowc d 

us 


a  People  in  tbe  Day  of  trouble.        \$ 

us  up  quick,  when  their  wrath  was  kindled 
againft  us, — Bldled  be  the  Lord,  who  hath 
not  given  us  a  prey  to  their  teeth. — Our 
help  is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  made 
heaven. and  earth". 

OUR  fathers,  even  after  they  had,  in  a 
good  meafure,  iubdued  this  wildernels-coun- 
try,  enlarging  their  borders,  increafing  in 
numbers,  and  in  a  plenty  of  the  comforts  of 
life,  and,  at  the  lame  time,  adding  flrength 
and  glory  to  the  Britim  crown,  were  hardly 
dealt  with  by  thofe  who  had  the  govern- 
ment in  their  hands.  *  Their  charter  rights 


t> 
were 


*  The  following  fummary  of  the  tyrannical   op- 
prefiion  of  thofe  days    will  nac  be   efteemed   a 
mitrcprefentation,  as  it  is  taken  from  the  hiftory 
of  the  Mafiachufetts-Bay,   wrote  by  his  honor, 
our  prefent  commander  in  chief.     "  Nero  (pag. 
355.)  concealed  i.is  tyrannical  difpofubn    more 
years    than    Sir   Edmund,     and   his    creatures, 
did  months.     It  was  not  long  before   the  cafe 
of  fomc,  who  apprehended  themfeives  opprefTed, 
came  under  confiacrati  ,n  ;   one  of  the  Council 
told  them,  that  they  miift  not  think,  the  privile- 
ges of  Englifhmen  would  follow  them  to  the 
end  of  the   world.      This  gave   an  alarm  thro* 
the  government. — One  of  the  firft  a6ts  ef  pow- 
er was    the   rettra'nt  of  the  prefs.     Randolph 
[  that  tool   of  power  ]  was  the  licenfer — A  re- 
itramt  upon  marriages  was  more  grievous.  None 
were  allowed  to  marry,  except  they  entered  into 

bonds, 


[ii>          frufl  in  God  the  Duty  of 

were  trampled  upon,  and  arbitrary  methods 
taken  to  diipofe  of  their  lands,  and  make 
them  flaves  to  thofe  who  had  ic  in  view  to 
tyramze  over  thera.  But,  as  they  trufted  in 
GOD,  he  made  bare  his  arm  for  their  deli- 
ycrancc.  This  he  did  by  effecting  a  glori- 
ous 

bonds,  with  fureties  to  the  Governor,  to  be  for- 
feited in  caf*  there  fhould  afterwards  appear  to 
have  been  any  lawful  impediment. — Sir  Edr 
rnund  centered  the  congregational  minifters 
as  nicer  laymen.  Randolph  wrote  to  the  Bi- 
fiiip  of"  Lendon,  "  I  prefs  for  able  and  fober 
minifters,  and  we  will  contribute  largely  to 
their  maintainance  ;  but  ore  thing  will  mainly 
kelp,  when  no  marriages  (hall  hereafter  be  al- 
lowed lawful,  but  fuch  as  are  made  by  the  miru- 
fters  of  the  church  ©f  England. -—The  people 
(  356»  537-)  were  menaced,  that  their  meeting- 
houfes  fliou'd  be  taken  from  them,  and  that 
public  woifhip  in  the  c«ngregati®nal  way  (hpuld 
net  be  tolerated. r— Several  churches  had  agreed 
to  fet  apart  days  ot  thankfgiving  for  hij  IVIajefty's 
declaration  for  liberty  of  confcience.  The  Go- 
vernor forbad  them. — He  told  them,  they  fhould 
meet  at  their  peril,  and  that  he  fhould  fe/id  fol- 
tiiers  to  guard  their  meeting-houfes. — Swearing 
by  the  book  (pag.  358.  )  which  had  never  been 
praclifed,  was  now  introduced ;  and  fuch  as 
fcrupled  it  were  fined  and  imprifoned. — The 
fees  to  all  officers  were  exorbitant.  Fifty  Shil- 
lings [  money  of  that  day  ]was  the  cemmon  fee 
forprobateof  a  will. The  Governor  was  fupreme 
ordinary,  and  a&ed  by  himfdf. — It  was  a  great 


a  People  In  a  T)ay   of  1  rouble.          ij 

tius  revolution  in  England  ;  glorious  in  this, 

among   other   refp'e6ts,  that  it  changed  the 

C  line 

«.*  - 

burden  upon  widbws  and  children,  who  lived 
remote,  to  be  obliged  to  come  to'.  Bofton  for 
every  part  of  bu fine fs  relative  to ''the  fettlement 
ofeftates.  The  fees  of  all  other  officers  were 
complained  of  as  oppreilive.  THE  HARPIES 

THEMSELVES     QUARRELLED     ABOUT      THEIR. 

SHARE  OF  THE  PREY. — But  the  greatcft  profit 
(  pag.  359)  arofe  from  patents  for  lands.  The, 
Charter  being  vacated,  the  people  were  told' 
that  their  titles  to  their  eftates  were  of  no  va- 
lue.— It  was  made  public,  that  all  who  would* 
acknowledge  the  infufficiency  of  their  title,  de- 
rived from  the1  former  government,  by  petition- 
Ing  for  new  patents,  {Kould  be  quieted  upon' 
reafonable  terms. —In  the  complaint  to  King 
James,  it  is  alt  edged,  that  the  fees  of  fome 
amounted  to  Fifty  Pounds. — Men's  titles  were 
not  queftioned  all  at  once.»  Had  this  been  this 
cafe,  according  to  the  computation  then  made, 
all  the  perfonal  eftate  in  the  colony  would  riot 
have  paid  the  charge  of  the  patents.— -The  Go- 
vernor (pag.  361)  with  four  or  five  of  his  Coun- 
cil laid  what  taxss  they  thought  proper.  This 
the  people  complained  of" as  their  greateft  griev- 
ance. They  thought  themfelves  TNTITLED  TO 

THE  LIBERTIES    AtfD  IMMUNITIES    OF    FREE 
AND     NATURAL       BORN     ENGLISH     SUBJECTS, 

and  confequently   that  No  MONIES   OUGHT  TO 
BE    RAISED    FROM  THEM    BUT  BY  THEIR  RE- 

Thcfe, 


»8-  Trufi  in  God  the  Duty  of 

line  of  the  Regal   fucceflion,  fettling  it  on 
lier  Ele&oral  Highnefs,thePrincefs SOPHIA  f 

Dutchcfs 

Thefe,and  fuch  like  in  gcneraI5were  the  fufFer- 
ings  of  our  fathers,  under  the  adminiftration  of 
Sir  Edmund,  "  who  knew  too  well  the  difpofr- 
lion  of  hismafter  to  give  him  any  concern  about 
the  complaints  preferred  againft  him"  :  But  they 
were  the  occafion  of  a  revolution  hereabout 
the  fame  time,  the  revolution  took  place  in 
England  3  a  general  account  only  of  which  would 
take  up  more  room  than  can  be  riere  fpared. 

I  ihail  only  fubjoin  that  obfervable  remark  of 
our  honourable  commander  in  chief,  in  a  note  a£ 
the  bottom  of  page  3191.  "  Of  all  that  were  con- 
cerned in  the  late  government  [  Sir  Edmund's]- 
Mr.  DUDLEY  felt  moft  of  the  people's  refent- 
jnent,  Opprcflion  is  lefs  grievous  from  a  ft  ran- 
ger than  one  of  our  own  country".  He  further 
fays,  in  the  words  of  Danforth  to  I.  Mather, 
'*  Mr.  Dudley  is,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  the 
objecl:  of  the  people's  diipleafure  —They  deeply 
refent  his  corrcfpondence  with  that  WICKED 
RANDOLPH  for  overturning  the  government. 


•f  SOPHIA  was  daughter  of  ELISABETH,  daugh- 
ter of  King  James  the  fir  ft.  She  married 
GOVNT  PALATINE  of  the  Rhine, ;  and  in  her 
day  the  whole  Palatinate  (who  were  PROTES- 
TANTS) fufFered  greatly,  in  confequcncc  of  the 
cxercife  of  catholic  tyranny.  It  was  reafona- 
bly  expected  her  own  father  would  have  afford- 
ed her  needed  help  $  but  ike  had  no  afliftance 


£  People  iff  &  Tjay  of  Trouble.          15 

IDutchcfs  of  Hanover,  the  only  remaining 
PROTESTANT  branch  of  the  old  royal  fami- 
ly, and  the  heirs  of  her  body,  being  PRO- 
TESTANTS ;  which  fettlement  of  the  crown^1 
firfl  made  in  the  reign  of  King  William  and 
Queen  Mary,  and  afterwards  confirmed  by 

related 

from  him.  The  famous  Dr.  Prcfton,  rnafter 
of  Emanuel-College  in  Cambridge,  and  chap- 
lain in  ordinary  to  his  then  Maje£y  King 
James,  in  a  Sermon,  preached  in  his  hearing^ 
has  thefe  obfervable  words  (  pag.  51),  directed 
to  thofe  who  had  great  power,  and  opportuni- 
ty ©f  doing  good,  "  Let  them  confider  that  ex- 
cellent fpeech  of  Mordacai  to  Efther,  (chap.  4. 
v.  24.^)  Ifthou  bold  thy  tongue  at  this  time-)  delive- 
rance Jball  appear  to  the  Jews  from  anctber  place  $ 
but  tbou  and  tbyboufe  Jb&ilperi/b.  The  meaning 
is  this  ;  then  there  was  an  opportunity  of  doing 
good  to  the  church.  Therefore,  faith  he,  if  thou 
do  not  do  it,thou  and  thy  houfe  {hall  perifh.  For 
if  any  be  an  impediment,  nay,  if  any  do  not  do 
their  beft,  I  pronounce  this^  in  tbe  name  of  the 
-ibt  msft  true  GOD,  that  Jh a II  make  it  good  Jooner 
or  later )  thsy  and  their  hsufis  Jball  perijh^  and  be  as 
•tbejlraw  that  we  Jpake  <?/,  that  oppreffetb  tbe  coal 
of  fire'\  Some,  perhaps,  may  look  upon  this  as 
a  prophetic  fpeech,  and  remarkably  fulfilled, 
when  they  are-told,  that  Charles  the  Firft,  King 
James's  Son*  was  awfully  beheade.d;  and  that 
James  the  Second,  his  Grandfon,  abdicated  the 
throne,  upon  which,  after  the  death  of  Queeu 
-Ann,  George  the  Fird  was  feated,  in  whole  fe- 
the  fucceilion  has  run  on  (o-this  da,, 


so  ,f?ujl   in  God  the  .'Duty  of^ 

repeated  acts  of  Parliament,  upon  the  death 
i>f  Queen  Ann,  who  left  no  iilue,  placed  his 
Jvlajefty  King  George  the  Firft  on  the  Bri- 
tifh  throne,  then  his  royal  Son  our  late  King 
.George  the  Second,  and  now  his  Grandfon, 
pur  prefent  moil  gracious  King  George  the 
Thir<i ;  in  whofe  family,  our  prayer  10  the 
GOD  of  Heaven  is,  that  the  fucceffiou 
gbide  for  ever  ! 

THE  religious  and  civil  liberties  and  pri- 
vileges, both  of  the  mother-country  and 
the  American  colonies,  were  nearly  and 
clofcly  connected  with  this  fignal  interpofi- 
tion  of  that  GOD,  who  is  King  of  Kings,  and 
Lord  of  Lords,  whofe  kingdom'  is  an  ever- 

Jafting  kingdom^  and  whofe  dominion  ruleth 
over  all.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  marvel- 

rlous  appearance  of  '"divide  providence, 
in  favor  of  the:  people  in  Old,  as  well  as  in 
New-England,  they  would  have  been  go- 
verned, >not  by  law,  but  by  fovejeign  will, 
abfolute  pleaiure  ;  that  is,  in  plain  words, 

-they  would,  inftead  6f  being  free-men,  have 
been  'made  abject  flaves.  That  was  the 
language  of  our  pious  fathers,  both  at  home 
and  in  this  country,  upon  this  great  and 

-never  to    be   forgotten   deliverance,  *' The 

Lord  is  our  ftrength  and  refuge,  our  Ihield 
and  defence.  The  Lord  hath  done  great 

;«hiri£S  foruSj  whereof  we  are  glad.   Afcribe 

r  -y.  •  •  ye 

/* 


a   People  in  a   Day.  of  trouble  .       21 

S3  grcatnefs  to  our  GOD.  Fie  is  the  rock.' 
His  work  is  perfect.  A  GOD  of  truth,  and 
w:chpac  iniquity  j  ju/l  andji^ht  is  he", 

IN  a  word,  our  fathers,  as  they  tr tided  in 

^ GOD,  were  favored  with  many  deliverances 
from  great  dangers,  and  heavily  prcfiing 
difficulties  •,  and1  in  a  manner,  jj  me  times, 

'peculiarly  linking  and  furprizi'ng.  Perhaps 
it  cannot  be  fa  id  of  any  deliverances,  wroughc 
out  for  any  people,  thole  excepted  whichGpD 

'wrought: ;  out' tor  Jus  Ifrael  of  old,  that  they 
vere  more  Qgnally  great  arVd  .glorious  than 
thofe,  in  which  he  made  h'S  arm  bare  for 
the  falvation  of  our  fathers  in.  this  land. 

t"  He  made  them  to  go'forth  like  fheep,  and 
guided  them  in  the  wildernefs  like  a  Hock  5 
and  he  led  them  on  fafely,  and  brough:  them 
to  the  place  his  right-hand  had  purchafed 
for  them.  He  cait  out  the  heathen  before 
(hem,  'and  divided  them  an  inheritance  as 
it  were  by  line  :  Yea,  he  drove  ouc  t he, hea- 
then with  hts  hand,  and  planted  them  5  he 
afflicted  the  people  and  cad  them  our.  For 
they  got  not  this  land  in  poffcffion  with  their 
own  fword,  neither  did  their  own  arm  lave 
them,  but  the  right-hand  and  arm  of  GOD, 
and  the  light  of  his  countenance,  becaufe  he 


,had  a  favor  for  them' 

,  .  ..     . 


THUS 


22  Vruft  in   God  fie  Dnty-of 

THUS  we  have  feen,  that  our  forefathers 
*c  trufted  in  GODJ?,  and  that  GOD,  in  confe- 
quence  of  this  their  piety  towards  him^ 
wrought  out  deliverance  for  them. 

THE  way  is  now  prepared, according  to  the 
method  at  firft  laid  out,  .  to  point  OIK  to  us 
their  pofterhy  our  duty  in  this  day  of  trou- 
ble, and  the  good  effed  we  may  humbly 
look  for  from  the  faichful  performance  of  it, 

IT  is  our  lot,  my  hearers,  to -live  in  a  time 
?wh en  the  face  of  providence  is  angry  and 
threatning.  Our  mother-country  is  in  a  ftate 
of  great  perplexity,  difficulty,  and  confufion. 
If  we  may  give  credit  to  the  accounts  we 
liave  from  hon>e,  complaints  run  high,  un- 
eafmefs  and  -diicontent  are  grown  general,, 
infomuch  that,  if  GOD  does  not  mercifully 
interpofe,  no  one  knows  what  may  be  the 
confequence.  And  it  is  with  us,  in  thefe 
American  lands,  a  day  of  darknefs,  a  day 
wherein  we  are  called  to  put  on  iackcloth. 
We  are  out  of  favor  with  our  fovereign,  and 
moft  of  thofe  who  (land  round  his  throne; 
tho'  it  is  an  alleviation  of  our  unhappmefe, 
that  their  difpleafure  is  owing  to  injurious 
rcprefenrations,  repeatedly  and  wickedly 
made  to  our  disadvantage. — 1  he  reRraints 
we  are  under  as  to  the  exercife  of  fome  cf 


0  People  in  a  Day   of  Trouble.          z$ 

our  rights  and  privileges  are  grievous  ;  and 
the  more  fo,  as  they  were  the  purchafe  of 
our  fathers  at  the  nfque  of  every  thing  near 
and  dear  to  them,  their  lives  not  excepted. — 
In  return  for  the  part  we  chearfully  bore  in 
the  late  glorioufly  fuccefsful  war,  which  em  p.- 
tied  our  purfes,  brought  upon  us  an  heavy 
debf,and  occafioned  a  much  greater  lofs  of  our 
young  men  ,  the  flower  and  glory  of  the 
country,  than  was  ever  known  before  \  I  fay, 
m  return  for  this  expence  of  blood  and  trea- 
fure,  from  which  we  ex  peeled  to  reap  greac 
benefit,  new  duties  have  been  impofed  on 
us,  and  without  any  to  reprefentour  perfons 
in  parliament,  or  to  act  in  our  behalf  \  new 
officers  have  been  appointed,  and  a  nume- 
rous train  of  them  too,  with  enormous  fttv- 
pends  for  this  part  of  the  world,  and  to  be 
paid  out  of  our  pockets  ;  in  confequence  of 
which  our  trade  was  never  before  loincum- 
bered  with  difficulties,  never  fo  loaded  with 
charges,  and  never  fo  obftructed  in  its  ope- 
ration.— And  we  have,  in  a  meafure,  been 
treated  as  tho*  we  were  rebels  ;  otherwifc, 
what  occafion  could  there  be  for  this  metro- 
polis to  be,  as  it  were,  garrifon'd  with  the 
King's  troops,  to  the  infinite  hurt  of  the 
morals  of  its  inhabitants,  and  to  their  being 
in  a  variety  of  ways  infulted,  injured,  and  a- 
bufed  ?  But  it  would  be  necdlcfs  to  enlarge 
in  a  detail  of  hardlhips  we  7arc  all  know- 
ing 


24         Trujl  in   COD   the  Duty   cf 

ing  to,  from  what  we  have  already  felr5  cf 
are  n-jw  groaning  under  :  Nor  mail  I  incd£ 
the  charge  of  going  out  of  rny  line,  by  en- 
tering upon  a  political  confideration  of  what 
rnay  be  thought  the  true  fource  of  ihofe  diff- 
iculties which  make  the  prefent,  a  day  of 
trouble.  Tis  certainly  the  truth  of  fact, 
however  the  right  of  taxation  be  determi- 
ned, that  we  are  in  a  perplext  (icuation. 

AND  our  duty  is,  afterthe  example  of  our 
fathers,  in  like  circumflances,  to  "  truil  in 
GOD".  He  only  is  the  ultimate  object  of 
dependance.  On  him  alone  can  wefecure- 
ly  rely  for  the  falvation  our  cafe  calls  for 
In  vain  will  it  be  to  look  to  the  hiils  and  to 
the  mountains,  to  fccond  caufcs  of  whatever 
kind  or  nature  •,  for  they  are  nothing,  and 
can  affcd:  nothing,  without  him,  to  the  neg- 
lecl:  of  him,  much  lefs  in  oppofition  to  him. 
The  fcripturtsare  accordingly  filled  with  calls 
to  trufl  an  GOD,  efpecially  in  a  day  of  trou- 
ble. And  we  are  there  told,  that  "  it  is  bet- 
ter to  truft  in  the.  JLord  than  to  put  confi- 
dence in  man"  ;  that  "  it  is  better  to  truft  in 
the  Lord  than  to  put  confidence  in  Princes*'. 
Yea,  we  are  there  warned  againft  placing 
our  confidence  in  any  being  below  the  one 
true  and  living  GOD,  "  the  Lord  Jehovah, 
in  whom  is  tvcrlaftingftrength".  Yea,  fur- 
ther, we  have  fuch  a  folenm  denunciation  as 

thatj 


#  People  in  a  Day  tfTfontfa        25 

ihat,  <c  curfed  is  the  man  who  frufteth  in 
man,  who  maketh  fleftv  his  arm",  that  is,  in 
oppofition  to  GOD,  without  a  becoming  fub- 
Jerviency  to  the  will  and  pleafure  of  the 
almighty  Ruler  of  the  world, 

IT  is  therefore  our  duty,  nor  can  we  dor' 
any  thing  better,  under  our  prefent  circum- 
ftances,  than  to  put  our  truft  in  GOD.  And 
if  we  do  this  with  humble  reverence  -9  with 
all  due  fubmiffion  tp  th§  fovercign  a.lwife^ 
dominion  of  providence  &  and  ijr  the  ufe  of 
fuch  means  as  are  reafonabje  and  juft»  and 
will  be  fo  accounted  by  "tfoe  rightepuf  LOE$ 
wholovech  rightcoufncfs"a  we  ni^  (lope  tg 
delivered  out  of  all  our  trembly. 
the  good  erFedt  confequent  upor^ 
truibng  in  GOD.  *  TTh«y  tmfted 
*'  delivered  them".  And  h$  is,  th§  farp§ 
Almighty  good  GOD  now,  that  he  was  in 
day.  "  Hi*  arm  is  not  fhortncd  lhar  \t 
not  fave". 


THE  ground  upon  which  we  may 
for  deliverance,  if  we  truft  in  GOD,  are 
as  render  all  fear  of  being   cither  afhamec 
or  difappointed,  necdlcfs  and  unreafonable. 

GOD  has  abundantly  declared,  in  the  re- 
velation he  has  made  of  his  purpofes,  tha; 
JiC  will  be  the  deliverer  of  thofe  that  futably 


&S         Trujf  in  G&D  the   Duty  ef 

repair  to  him  as  their  fupreme  refuge,  and 
all-fufficient  help.  The  texts  to  this  pur^ 
pofe  are  fcattcred  all  over  the  bible.  Hence 
the  prayer  of  David,  recorded  in  Pfal.  1 7, 
7. — "  O  thou  that  faveft,  by  thy  right  hand^ 
them  that  put  their  truft  in  thce, — hide  me 
winder  the  fhadow  of  thy  wings  from  the 
wicked  that  opprefs  me,  from  my  deadly 
enemies  whe  compafs  me  about :  they  are  in- 
clofed  in  their  own  fat  ;  with  their  mouths 
they  fpeak  proudly. — Arife,  O  Lord,  deli- 
ver my  fouf  from  the  wicked".  Hence  al- 
fo  thofe  words  in  the  33.  Pfal.  v.  2©.  "  Be- 
hold, the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that 
hope  in  his  mercy,  to  deliver  their  foul  fromr 
death,  Our  foul  waiteth  for  the  Lord  :  He 
is  our  help  and  fhi«ld.  Our  heart  fhall  re- 
joice in  him,  becauis  we  have  rrufted  in  his 
holy  name.  Let  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  be 
upon  us  according  as  we  hope  in  thee.  lr» 
like  manner,  it  is  fcid  Pfal.  37.  "The  fal- 
vation  of  the  righteous  is  of  theLoixK:  he 
is  their  ftrength  in  the  time  of  trouble.  And 
the  Lord  fhall  help  them  and  deliver  them  ; 
he  (half  deliver  them  from  the  wicked,  and 
fave  them,  bccaufe  they  fruit  in  him". 

AND  this  Go©  that  has  engaged  delive- 
rance to  thofe  who  futably  depend  on  him 
for  it,  is  abundantly  able  to  fulfill  his  word 
aid  promirfe.  For  he  is  infinite  in  t-hc  per* 

fedtions. 


*  Petple  fa  »  -Day  ef  fwulle.         27 

Ifccllons  of  his  nature;    in  wifciom,  know- 
Jedge,       power,     faithfulncis,    and     good- 
-nefs,     Noobftacles  arc  rhe   lead    hindrance 
to  him.     All  nature  is  at  his   command,  all 
fecond  caufes,  whether  phyfical,  or  moral  » 
<and  he  can  make  jufl  what  ufe  of  them    he 
jpleafes   in  accompliflnng  his  own   purpofes. 
Me  can  bring  to  nought  the  mod  deep  laid 
counfels ;  overruling  them  to  his  own  glofy^ 
.and  the  good  of  thole  agairft  whprn  they  are 
defigned.     The  hearts  of  men,  the  greateft 
as    well  as   the  leaft,    are   known    to    h m* 
and  abfolutely  under  his  controul  ;  and   hs 
can,  whenever  he  pleafes,  "xurn  them  even 
as    the  rivers   of  waters    are   turned".     No 
.devices  of  men,  whether  high  or  low,  can 
take  efftd  in  contradi&ion  tohis  alwife.plca- 
fure.     There  are  a  thoufand  ways  in   which 
be  can   defeat  them  ;  yea,    he   can    employ 
^chc    word  and  moft  powerful    evil  devifers, 
as   inltruments   to  confound  their   own  de- 
figns,  and  bring  the  Contrary  to  what  they 
intended  into  eftecl:.    In  fhort,  ail  the  wifdom 
.and  power  of  heaven  and  earth,  of  all  angels 
and  all  men,  are  under  the  government   of 
GOD  •,  and  he  can  make  ufe  of  it  all,  mould 
'.he  think   fit  to  employ  their  inftru mentality,, 
in  working  out  falvation  for  his  people  that 
truly  truft  in  him  :  Yea,  he  could   invert  the 
lourfe  of  nature,  flop  the  fun  in  its  courfe, 
ibe  ft^rs  to  fight,  and  iruerpofe 


it         .frujt  in  GOD  tbt  Duty  of 

by  ftupcndous  figns  in  heaven,  and  won- 
ders on  earth,  for  their  defence,  protection 
and  deliverance.  Thus  he  has  done,  and  he 
may  do  the  fame  again.  There  is  no  with- 
Handing  GOD.  He  can  with  infinite  eafe, 
in  oppofition  to  earth  and  hell,  defend  and 
faye  thofe  that  make  him  their  ftrength  and 
_  refuge. 

LET  us  then,  my  brethren,  caft  all  out 
.care  and  fear  on  the  Lord.  Let  us  make 
GOD  the  ultimate  object  of  pur^ependance  • 
Jooking  above  all  fecond  caufes ;  dot"  cruft> 
ing  in  man,  whofe  breath  is  in  his  noftrils'% 
and  can  do  nothing  but  in  lubierviency  to 
the  governing  wiidom  of  that  providence 
which  extends  over  all  human  affairs. 

.    .ONLY,  let  me,  remind  yo.n   of  one  thing9 
rwhich  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  that 
Js;  that  our  truft  in  GOD  mud  be  accompa- 
nied with  repentance,  evidencing  its  genuine 
reality   by  an   amendment  of  o«r  doings 
which  have  not   been    right,  and  obedience 
.to  the  voice  of  the  Lord.  We  fhall  only  pre- 
,lnmc,  if  we  pretend  to    trufi  in  GOD,   while 
.we  go  on  in  our  fins,  and  refufe  to  be  reclai- 
Jned.     A  pious  truft  in  GOD,    and   impeni- 
,  tencc  in  fin,  are  utterly  inconfiftent  with  each 
t>ther.     We  cannot  in  a  truly  religious  way, 
Enakc  Gab  our  refuge,   while   w«  retain  a 

Jove 


0  ttoph  in  a   Day  of  Trouble.       2$ 

love  to  our  fins,  and  will  not  be  prevailed  oa 
to  part  with  them. 

I       AND  here  you  will  permit  me-to  fay,  our 

j   fins  are  the  worft  enemies  we  have.     They 
are,  properly  fpeaking,  the  true  moral  caufe 

s  of  all  that  we  now  fuffer,  or  have  reafon  to 
fear.  We  may  afcribe  the  ill  (late  of  our 
affairs  to  this  or  the  .other  fecond  caufe.  We 
may  afcribe  it  to  rpifreprefentations  fcnt  to 
,£he  mother-country  by  thofe,  in  this,  who 
feek  their  own,  not  the  welfare  of  the  pub* 
lie  ;  We  may  afcribe  it  to  the  pride,  the  re- 
Tenement,  the  hatred  of  men  at  home,  clo- 
thed with  dignity  and  honor;  we  may  afcribe 
it  to  a  malignant  fpirit  in  fotne,  who  cannot 
be  eafie  without  having  the  purfes  of  the 
colonies  fubjeded  to  their  arbitrary  pleafure. 
•But  if  any  mould  fuppofe  our  difficulties 
may,  in  any  meafure,  be  owing  to  thefe,  of 
fuch  like  caufes,  it  muft  be  faid,  they  are 
only  fecondary  ones,  fuperintended  and  go- 
verned by  the  great  Ruler  of  the  world. 
Men  can  do  nothing  without  GOD.  And 
whatever  difficulties,  hardfhips,  and  fuffer- 
ings  they  may  be  the  occafion  of,  they  are 

,  only  inftruments  in  the  hands  of  providence. 

GOD  ultimately  is  the  irflicter  of  thefe  evils ; 

and  he  would  neither  infiidt,    or  permit  the 

infiidion  of  them,  but  on  account  of  the 

.Tins  of  thofe  who  fuffcr  by  them.     Our  fins 

therefore 


I®          fruft  in  G*d  tke  Duty  ef 

therefore,  in  the  lad  refult,  are  the  alone 
caufe  of  whatever  troubles  we  groan  under. 
Inftead  therefore  of  refiedting  blame  on  GOD, 
we  fhould  blame  ourfelves  ;  and  in  truth, 
we  have  much  more  reafon  to  blame  our- 
felves for  our  fins,  than  to  blame  even  the 
Secondary  caufcs  of  our  fuffenng. 

IF  then  we  would  truft  in  GOD,  fo  as  to 
fecurc  his  favor,  and  obtain  the  delivera-nce 
we  need,  we  mud  ipake  him  our  refuge  in 
the  way  of  repentance  and  reformation  ; 
humbling  ourfelves  in  a  fenfe  of  our  multi- 
plied offences  committed  againft  the  majefty 
of  heaven,  and  refolving,  in  the  ftrength  of 
divine  grace,  that  wherein  we  have  done  ini- 
quity we  will  do  fo  no  more.  If  we  would 
hope,  upon  juft  grounds,co  be  a  happy  peo- 
ple, and  to  have  continued  to  us  thoie  inva- 
luable rights  and  liberties  that  have  been 
trar/mit.cd  to  us  from  our  fathers,  we  muft 
be  imitators  of  their  virtue,  truft  in  GOD  in 
a  way  of  repentance,  and  a  dae  care  to  live 
in  the  world  pioufly,  righteoufly,  and  fobcr- 
ly,  as  the  grace  of  GOD,  in  the  gofpel,  has 
4taught  us  to  do,  and  is  ready  to  enable  us 
to  do.  If  we  are  but  once  effectually  wrought 
upon  to  renounce  our  fins,  and  walk  in  new- 
•nefs  of  1  fe,  ordering  our  converfation,  not 
by  flefhly  wifdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  GOD, 
may  humbly  hope,  that  GOD  will  be  for 


*  People  in  tke  Day  of  Trouble.       jr* 

us  •,  and  if  GOD  be  for  us,  we  need  not  fe^r 
who  are  againft  us.  No  power  whatever, 
in  this  cafe,  (hall  do  us  any  real  harm.  The 
things  that,  to  human  appearance, are  againft 
us  (hall  in  the  end  turn  ©ut  to  our  advan- 
tage. GOD  can  make  the  moft  adverfe  (late 
of  affairs  wcrk  out  our  bed  good  ;  and  be 
will  certainly  do  it,  if  we  love  him  with  all 
our  hearts,  and  ferve  him  wich  all  our  might, 
conforming  ourfelvcs  to  the  directions  of  his 
word.  While  we  trull  in  the  pcrfe&ions  of 
almighty  GOD,  in  the  way  of  doing  our  dury 
to  him,  we  need  not  fear,  however  dark  and 
melancholly  the  face  of  providence  may  ap- 
pear for  the  prefent.  For  GOD  will  be  our 
help.  And  "  happy  are  they  who  have  ths 
GOD  of  Jacob  for  their  help,  whofe  hope  is 
in  the  Lord  their  Goo".  While  we  thus  ftit 
our  hope  in  him,  we  may  triumph  and  (ing, 
*'  the  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  falvation, 
whom  fhall  I  fear  ?  The  Lord  is  the  ftrengtb 
of  my  life,  of  whom  (hall  1  be  afraid  ?  When 
the  wicked,  even  mine  enemies,  came  upon 
me  to  eat  up  my  flefh,  they  (lumbled  and 
fell.  Though  an  hoft  mould  encampagainft 
me.  my  heart  (hall  not  fear ;  though  they 
fhould  rile  againft  rqe,  in  this  will  1  be  conn- 
dent.. 

I  may  now,  with  pertinency,  put  you  upon 
,   that  this  is  the  day,    on  the 

yearly 


'g  2"  Vruft  in  G&d  the  Duty  of 

yearly  return  of  which  we  were  wont  to  take 
to  ourfelves  words,  and  fay,  "  we  were  glad 
when  they  faid  unto  us,  let  us  go  into  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord.  Our  feet  (hall  (land 
within  thy  gates,  O  BOSTON.  BOSTON  is 
as  a  city  compact  together,  whither  the 
tribes,  throughout  the  province,  by  their  re- 
prefentatives,  the  tribes  of  the  Lord,  aflem- 
blc  to  give  thanks  to  the  name  of  theLord'% 
preparatory  to  the  exercife  of  one  of  our  im- 
portant CHARTER-RIGHTS,  the  ELECTION 
of  his  MAJESTY'S  COUNCIL. 

The  removal  of  the  GENERAL  CouRT9 
from  this  its  ancient  and  conftitutional  feat, 
to  tranfact  the  bufineis  of  this  day,  unhap- 
pily excites  in  our  breads  thofe  fenfations  of 
grief  which  .obftrudl  the  motions  of  that  joy, 
which,  upon  this  occafion,  ufed  to  be  pure 
and  unalloyed.  And  our  grief  is  heightned 
from  the  confideration,  that  this  change  of 
place  rook  rile  from  thofe,beyond  tne  ailan- 
tic,  who,  as  we  have  reafon  to  think,  wifh 
not  well  to  our  Sion.  But  though  we  la- 
ment this  obitacle  which  has  been  thrown 
in  the  way  of  our  joy,  we  bow  the  knee  in 
humble  gratetu)  acknowledgments  to  the 
fujTcme  Ruler  of  the  world,  that  we  are 
not  deprived  of  our  RIGHT,  in  virtue  of 
the  ROYAL  GRANT,  to  chufe  councellcrs 
from  among  ourfelvts,  whatever  rcprefen- 

tttions 


6  People  inn  "Lay  of  trouble'.          33- 

tations  have  been  made  to  thofe  in  power,1 
at  Home,  tending  to  wreft  from  us  this  inva- 
luable right.  And  it  is,  1  doubt  not, 
the  fincere,  ardent  prayer  of  this  whole 
aflemblyj  in  union  with  our  brethren  ac 
Cambridge,  that  his  majcfty's  council  may 
this  day.  be  filled  with  men  of  wifdom 
and  underftandingy  men  of  integrity  and 
pprightnefs  ;  men  of  ability,  and  well 
knowing  in  the  time's  \  men  that  fear  GOD, 
honour  the  King,  and  are  ssealoufly  difpofed 
to  feek  the  welfare  of  this  people.  We  have, 
•without  controverfie,  a'  fumYiency  of  fuch, 
men  in  the  province.  And  the  fault  will  'lii'" 
with  thole  who  are  entruftcdVithch^ckftion* 
of  this  day,  or  with  him  who  has  a"' negative* 
on  their  choice,  if  we  have  not  the  beft  menr 
in  the  country  for  our  counccllers,  men  well 
acquainted  with  the  conftitytion,  laws,  pri~ 
veleges,  and  interefts  of  this  people  \  men  of 
fidelity  to  theif  King  and  country  ;  nicn  of 
a  public  fpirit,  who  are  above  acling  und^r 
the  influence  of  narrow  and  felfifh  principles  | 
men  of  inflexible  jufticdf  and  undaunted  re* 
folution,  who  will  dare  not  to  give  theis*  con-» 
fcnt  to  Unrighteous  acts,  or  miftaken  nomi- 
nations •,  men  who  will  difdam  in  their  hearts 
to  accommodate  their  conduct,  in  a  fervile 
manner,  either  to  their  electors,  or  him  who 
can  prevent  their  political  exiftcnce  \  in  fine, 
£  men 


gf  Trujt  in  God  tie  'Duty  ef 

men  who  will  fteadily,  and  in  a  uniform 
courfe,  act  up  to  their  character,  fupport  the- 
honor  of  their  (lations,  and  approve  them- 
felves  invariably  faithful  in  their  endeavours 
to  advance  the  common  weal. 

THESE  are  the  men  that  may  be  called 
to  fit  at  the  council-board  ;  and  we  hope  in 
that  alwife  almighty  being,  who  prefides 
over  the  affairs  of  the  children  of  men, 
fo  to  govern  the  views,  and  direct  the 
thoughts,  of  the  electors  this  day,  as  thac 
they  may  be  led  into  the  choice  of  fuch  coun- 
cellers  as  he  mail  own,  and  fucceed  to  pro- 
mote the  bed  intereft  of  this  people,  efpeci- 
ally  under  their  prefent  difficulties  and  dif- 
.trcfles. 

AND  when  the  feveral  branches  of  the 
Icgtflature  fhall  proceed  upon  the  affairs  of 
the  public,  we  pray  GOD  they  may  be  uni- 
tedly difpofed  and  enabled  to  act  as  thofe, 
vho  have  upon  thjir  minds  a  juft  fenfe  of 
the  vaft  importance  of  the  truft  that  is  re- 
pofcd  in  them. 

AND  let  it  not  be  thought  unfeafonableV 
no  one  prefent  will  think  it  fo,  if  I  mould 
fay,  that  it  may  reafonably  be  expected  of 
our  executive  courts,  that  they  act  with  vi- 
gor, and  impartiality,  in  the.diftribution  of 

juftkc 


People  in  a  7)  ay  -cf  *lr4>ubU.          35 


jj.uftice.     If  there  mould  have  been,  in 
meafure,    a  failure  in      this    relpecl,     fines 
the   King's   troops    were   itauoncd    in    this 
town,  from  whatever  c<wfe,  it  is  now  hoped 
that  "  jnfticc  and  judgment    will  run  down 
our   ftreets  as  a  itream"  :    And  1  the  rather 
mention    this,    becaufe  the  opened  earth    m 
one  of  our  ftreets,  in   the   month  of  march 
laft,  received  the   dreaming    blood    of  ma- 
ny   flaughtercd,     and    wounded  innocents. 
So  (hocking  a  tragady   was  never  before  ac- 
ted in    this  part   of  the    world  ;    and    GOD 
forbid  it  fhould  ever   be  again  !    Who   the 
ihcders   of  this    blood  wtre    may  p>fiibly 
appear,  upon   the    tryal  of   thofe    who  are 
under  confinement,   as    being  fuppofcd    to 
be   th;  gujlty    perfons.     We  wiQi  them   as 
fair   and  equal   a  tryal  as    they  themfclves 
can  defire.     And   fhouid  they  ail,  or  any    of 
thcmjbe  found  guilty,  though  their  (i  i  bf  as 
*4  fcarlet,  and  red  like  cnmibn",  we  heartily 
wifh  their  repentance,    that,    of  the    mercy 
of      GOD      in     Jefus    Ghrili,     they     may 
cfcape  the  fecond  death  ;     though  our  eye 
is  rcftrained   from   pitying    them    fo  as    to 
•wifn    their  deliverance  from  the  firft  death. 
For   the  fupreme  legiflatcr  has  faid,  "  whofo 
fheddeth  man*s  blood,  by  man  (hall  hisblocH 
^i?e  flied"~--c'iife  fliall     o  for  life'1—"  No 


3  6  f  ruff  -in   God  tit  Dutycf 

fiitisfa&ion  (hall    be  taken  for  the  life  of  a 
murderer—He  (hall  furely  be  put  to  death* 

SOME   have    whifpercd    a   fufpicion,    as 
though    a   reprieve  from    death   would   be 
granted,  mould  the  guilt  of  blood  be  faftned 
'upon  f>me   who  arc  fuppofed  to  have   been 
actors  in  this  horrid  wickednefs  —  But  it  is  an 
.high  indignity    offered  to  him,  who  has  the 
power  of  giving  a  reprieve,  To  much  as    to 
iufpect  he  would  do  it  in  the  cafe  of  BLOOD 
GUILTINESS,   clearly  proved    upon  any,  in 
confequence   of  .a  fair  and  impartial  tryal. 
Surely,  he  would  not  counter-act  the  opera- 
tion 'of   the  law   both  of  GOD   and   man. 
Surely,  he  would  noc  fufftr  the  Town  and 
Land,  to  lie  unr'er  the  defilement  of  blood  ! 
.Surely,  he  would  npt  make  himfelf  a  partaker 
in  the  guilt  of  murder,  by  putting  a  flop  to 
the1  fhedding  of  their  bI<Jod,  who  have  mur- 
deroufly  fpilt  the  blood  of  others  !'  All  fuch 
fufpicions  (hould  ;be  fuppreficd.     They  are 
virtually  a  fcandalous  .  reproach  reflected  on 
.him,  of  whole  integrity,  and  regard  to  pub- 
Jic  juftice,  we  ihould  entertain  ^a  more   ho- 
opinion. 


I  HAVE  no  need,  my  hearers,   to  be  ur- 
gent with  you  to  approve  yourfelves  loyal  to 
rightful  and  lawful  KING  GEORGE  the 

Third, 


'a  People  in  A  Day  of  VroulU        %f 

Third,  now   fetting  on  the   Britim  throne; 
For  it  is  undoubtedly  the  truth  of  fad,  that 
his  Majeity  has  .no  fubjects,  in  any  part  of 
his  extended   dominions,   that   would  more 
readily  venture  their  lives  and  fortunes    ia 
defence  of  his'  perfon,    the  fucceffipn  in  his 
royal  houfe,  and  his  government  within  the 
bound*  of  the  cnglifh  conftitution,  than  we 
in    the     MASSACHITSETS-PROVINCE,   ;not-« 
withftanding  the  ;bafc  and    falfe  .rcprefen- 
Rations  which   have  occafioned  his  Majefty, 
and    many   of  his  miniftcrs,    to    look    up- 
on   us  with    a    jealous    and    angry    eye. 
GOD  forgive  thofe  lovers  of  themfelves  in 
oppofition  to  their  King  and  country,   who^ 
from  felfifh    views,    have    reprefentcd    this 
people  as  difpofed  to  treafon  and  rebellion. 
Let  us,  my    brethren,   notwithftandmg  the 
malice  of  our  enemies,  and  their  unwearied' 
attempts   to   imprefs  the  mind   of  our   So- 
vereign, by   communications   to  his  mini- 
fters,  with  an  ill  opinion  of  us  •,  let  us,  I  fay, 
go  on,  as  we  have  hitherto  conftantly  done, 
to   "  make  (applications,  prayers,  intercefli- 
ons,  with  giving  of  thanks",  for  the  King 
as  fupreme,  and  for  all  in  authority   und$r 
him",    that  by  means  of  their   wife,  gen- 
tle, and  juft  adminift  rations  in  government, 
we  may  lead  quiet  and  peceable  lives  in 
godlincfs  and  honefty". 


3?  frujt  in  God  tie  ^Duly  tf 

AND  may  we  all  fo  conduft  in  the  va- 
rious ftations  and  relations  we  fuftain  in 
Kfc,  as  thar  we  may  honour  GOD,  krve 
cur  generation  according  to  his  will,  and 
finally  be  accounted  worthy  of  an  ad- 
miffi-oa  into  that  kingdom  that  is  above, 
where  we  fhall  dwell  in  love  and  peace, 
without  fin  or  forrow,  through  the  never- 
ending  ages  of  a  bleffed  eternity. 

Now  to  the  tc  blefil-d  and  only  poten- 
tate, the  King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of 
Lords,  of  whom,  and  through  whom, 
and  to  whom,  are  all  things,  be  honor 
power  everlading".  AMEN. 


